Communicating emotion through sound: An evaluation of clynes' theory of sentics

Abstract

Clynes' (1977) “sentic” theory was investigated in four experiments. Three tested the prediction that six brief, specific sounds isolated by Clynes and others would reliably be identified in terms of commonly shared associated emotions and feelings. Experiment I followed fixed-choice procedures outlined by Clynes and Nettheim (1982) and found some support for the prediciton with three of the sounds; but in the next two studies the effect was eventually limited to one sound as wider choice was permitted. This result was interpreted as consistent with a strong association between that sound and the predicted choice, as part of common knowledge, but as not requiring an actual emotional experience. The fourth experiment tested the prediction that these sounds and associated emotional terms would evoke common motor reactions, expressed as pressure patterns. Results established that different within-subject responses to different stimuli tended to be consistent but idiosyncratic, providing no evidence for common responses between subjects. Thus, the central theoretical proposition, that humans can communicate precise emotional intentions by sound and touch. was not tenable.